Last Sunday, we published a story about a new group formed to bring attention to commuter walking trails ? or the lack thereof ? in Russellville.

We've written, as others have, about the desperate need for sidewalks in our community. Becoming a part of bike and pedestrian traffic here is a risky proposition at best. Sharing the road with automobiles on roads not designed to accommodate both is not a solution.

Progressive cities ? Class A cities ? have commuter trails for several reasons: safety, health benefits and reducing traffic congestion to name a few.

So what can Russellville do to catch up?

Enter Theresa Herrick.

Herrick and a group of like-minded individuals worked hard in 1998 to secure $240,000 from the highway department for a trail along Prairie Creek. Unfortunately, the city at the time didn't have the matching funds required to secure the grant, so the money went away. What a missed opportunity ? to have almost a half-million-dollar project stymied due to a lack of local funding and, might we say, vision.

Well, Herrick and a committee are back, reformed as a subcommittee under the city parks and recreation commission and newly-named Russellville Connected. This time, she says being associated with the city will help with the overall goal of connecting all city parks and schools by a trail system. Of course, that's a long-range goal that may take 20 years, but what a goal!

Wouldn't it be great for our children to have the option to ride their bikes to school or walk to the park to play basketball?

We applaud Herrick and her committee for the vision and perseverance to try one more time to make our community a better place.